According to history, Samuel Sharpe was appointed to many positions in government during the very early years of this country. As the first settlers were arriving at the New World, many things would change about the government and life in general. The government of the Massachusetts Bay Colonies was resided over by a Governor, Deputy Governor, and a Council consisting of thirteen freemen. Mr. Sharpe served as one of these thirteen. He was also charged with the care of the "five pieces of Ordnance: that belonged to the colony." This took place in February of 1628.

On the 17th of April 1629, Mr. Sharpe was appointed by the Council of the Plantation in Massachusetts Bay Colonies to be "Master Gunner of Ordnance", a title brought over with the colonist from England. The Master Gunner was charged with care of the "ORDNANCE, SHOT, POWDER, MATCH, LADLES, SPONGES, WORMES, CARTRIDGES, ARMES, FIRE-WORKS, AND THE REST OF THE GUNNERS."

Throughout history, military spouses have made immeasurable and irreplaceable contributions to our Army. In addition to keeping their own "home fires burning", during long duty days and even longer deployments, they willingly dedicate countless hours of hard work in the support of soldiers, soldier families and their military community.

Without question, our spouses' devoted service to our Army and the country is distinctive and deserving of our undying gratitude. To this end, the Ordnance Corps Association has created the “Keeper of the Flame” spouses award.

Lieutenant General Levin Hicks Campbell, Jr., was born in Washington, D.C., on November 23, 1886 and graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1909. He began his remarkable Army career in the field of Ordnance in 1911, when he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Coast Guard Artillery Corps. Considered by many to be World War II’s greatest weapons designer and producer, he gained fame by heading the Ordnance Department through the days when the Industry-Ordnance Team began producing overwhelming firepower for World War II. He inaugurated manufacturing techniques in the production of gun carriages and self-propelled fighting vehicles; he revolutionized the art of artillery ammunition production in the areas of machining of shells, manufacturing of cartridge cases, and production of mechanical time fuzes; and he directed the vast program of building Ordnance plants throughout the country for the production of chemicals and explosives and the loading of ammunition. He was the Manufacturing Officer at Frankford Arsenal, from June 1935 to October 1940, and the Assistant Chief of Industrial Service at the Office Chief of Ordnance from November 1940 to June 1942. He was Chief of Ordnance from July 1942 until his retirement in May 1946. He was advanced to the grade of Lieutenant General on the AUS retired list on June 4, 1948. General Campbell died in Annapolis, Maryland on November 17, 1976.

Colonel Decius Wadsworth was born on January 2, 1768 and graduated from Yale College with honors in 1785. On June 2, 1794, he was appointed by President Washington as a captain in the Corps of Artillerists and Engineers. He briefly served as acting Superintendent of the Military Academy and was later a merchant in Montreal, Canada. Colonel Wadsworth was selected to Commissary General of Ordnance July 2, 1812. On February 8, 1815, the Office of Commissary General of Ordnance was redesignated as the Chief of Ordnance. His newly authorized, but unorganized department was charged with the procurement, supply, and maintenance of all cannon, small arms, powder, ball, shot, and other related items for the war effort. He drew up a set of regulations to ensure uniformity in the public armories and in the manufacture of ordnance materiel.. He standardized small arms in the service and accomplished inventories of materiel on-hand at posts and forts around the country. Colonel Wadsworth served as the Chief of Ordnance until June 1, 1821, at which time he left the service due to illness. Colonel Wadsworth died on November 8, 1821.